Acharya Prashant: The Intellectual Life Guru And Philosopher Who Cracked IIT And UPSC

Meet Acharya Prashant – One of the Few Genuine and Qualified Life Gurus, Philosophers and Authors in India

Acharya Prashant hosts several seminars, YouTube videos, Zoom meetings, podcasts, debates, books, articles and more to ensure his teachings reach a wide audience, prioritizing his message over his own fame.

Cracking both UPSC and IIT has established him as a highly qualified and intellectual person, attracting a mature audience who follow him wholeheartedly.

In this post, we will explore his journey from a normal kid to cracking the IIT and UPSC exams and becoming a renowned life guru.

Table of Content

• Who Is Acharya Prashant
• His Childhood
• Education Qualifications
• Network
• Life Lessons
• Is He Married?
• Dear Family
• Controversies
• Net Worth

1. Who Is Acharya Prashant?

Acharya Prashant is a 46-year-old Indian life guru, philosopher, author, and Advaita teacher who is rapidly gaining immense popularity and a large number of devotees due to his profound teachings on human traits.

Image by Instagram

Moreover, he is also a renowned YouTuber with over 48 million subscribers, making him one of the biggest individual YouTubers in India.

In fact, he has cracked both the UPSC and IIT exams but chose to leave those career paths to share his teachings and life lessons for the betterment of society.

In short, Acharya Prashant is not your regular life guru or philosopher. He is a well-educated and qualified individual with vast life experience.

Some of Acharya Prashant’s most popular teachings cover topics such as the nature of love, anger, hate, truth, and his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita.

Attribute	Detail
Name	Acharya Prashant
Age	46
Date of Birth	1978
Hometown	Agra, India
Career	Life Guru
Martial Status	Unmarried (Not Planning To)
Religion	Hinduism
Food Type	Vegan
Zodiac Sign	Aquarius
Education	Cracked IIT and UPSC
Cast	Jatt
Email Id	support@advait.org.in

a) How To Contact And Engage

Here are the links, mobile number and email ID to either contact or engage with the facility and organization of Acharya Prashant.

Email Id	support@advait.org.in
App	Download Here
Website	https://acharyaprashant.org/
Mobile Number	+91 9650585100
Whatsapp Number	+91 9650585100

b) Physical Properties

Acharya Prashant is a dignified presence with a serene demeanor, often seen with a calm expression, neatly trimmed beard, and simple yet elegant attire.

Attribute	Data
Height	In cm – 175 cm, In meter – 1.75 m In feet –  5 foot 9 inch
Weight	N/A
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Black

c) Social Media

Here are the social media platforms and handles where Acharya Prashant is very active and consistently posts something to engage with his audience.

Platform	Followers	Link
Acharya Prashant	48 Million+	Subscribe Him
Second Channel	2.73 Million+	Subscribe Him
Instagram	3.7 Million+	Follow Him
Facebook	10 Million+	Follow Him
Twitter (X)	1.1 Million+	Follow Him

d) Animal Love And Veganism

Is Acharya Prashant an animal activist and Vegan?

Image by Instagram

Yes! Acharya Prashant is a dedicated animal activist and vegan, passionately advocating for both causes. He stands firmly against all forms of animal cruelty and advises people to adopt a vegan lifestyle, though he never forces anyone. He was honored with Peta‘s ‘Most Influential Vegan of the Year’ award in Mumbai.

Additionally, he believes in opposing speciesism, emphasizing that humans should not feel superior to other species or lifeforms.

2. Childhood

Acharya Prashant was born in 1978 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh during the blessed day of MahaShivRatri into a normal family. His mostly childhood was spent in Uttar Pradesh. Since childhood, he was an introvert and a voracious reader, who played a lot and was known for his mischief.

Plus, he was an extraordinary child with exceptional academic abilities, excelling in multiple subjects, including science, humanities, mathematics, and languages, demonstrating equal proficiency in both English and Hindi, thanks to his reading ability.

Fact: Acharya Prashant is a devoted book lover who has been an avid reader since childhood and his father used to visit cities and bookstores to stock up a collection for him.

Throughout his school journey, Acharya Prashant consistently excelled, earning medals, trophies, and the highest awards a student could receive. His mother was recognized as “Mother Queen” multiple times due to his achievements and performance.

Teachers found him to be mischievous one moment and contemplative the next. His friends recall him as someone with an unfathomable temperament, often unsure whether he was being serious or joking.

In short, since childhood, Acharya Prashant was an outstanding student and son, interest in many subjects at ones and even excellent in them

3. Education Qualification

Since childhood, Acharya Prashant has always been an outstanding student, excelling in multiple subjects such as Science, Humanities, English, Hindi, and more. His remarkable reading ability has been the primary reason for his academic success.

Image by Instagram

He also topped both his 10th and 12th boards and then went to pursue higher courses with full confidence.

He recalls – “Reading wasn’t confined to one particular genre. I was hungry and sucked in whatever came my way. From comics to somebody’s PhD thesis, even if I couldn’t make much of it,”.

This habit plays a major role in his holistic development across various subjects and disciplines. With dedication, hard work, and exceptional reading ability, Acharya Prashant successfully cracked many prestigious exams in India, such as UPSC, IAF, and even IIT.

After completing his basic education, he cracked Jee and IIT. He stated that his academic journey commenced with a bachelor’s degree in Textile engineering from IIT Delhi, followed by post-graduation in management from IIM Ahmedabad in 2003.

After graduating from IIT-Delhi, Acharya Prashant went on to qualify for both UPSC and CAT in the same year. 

4. Job

At 22, he entered a position through UPSC but eventually resigned, citing the lack of freedom in the central government. Feeling young and wanting to make better use of his time, he decided to move on from the role.

After these experiences, he realized that his true purpose and passion lay elsewhere. Driven by a deep passion for Vedanta, he embarked on a journey to share his profound wisdom and truths with the world at large.

5. Network Of Teaching

Now, Acharya Prashant is one of the most prominent and famous personalities not only in India but throughout the world, known for his countless YouTube videos, live sessions, college events, podcasts, books, apps, and more.

Image by Official Website

He has meticulously developed a well-built network encompassing all these mediums to disseminate his teachings and lessons in the most efficient and impactful manner to his followers.

All of these resources are readily available on the internet, either for free or at a very low cost, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience seeking his teachings.

a) Social Media

While Acharya Prashant was already popular and had loyal devotees who were aware of his life teachings, social media has played a crucial role in amplifying his popularity and spreading his teachings to a global audience.

• Acharya Prashant and his foundation are active on more than 40 social media platforms.
• He also has a YouTube channel with more than 48 million followers and over 10,000 videos, making it the largest individual YouTube channel in India.
• Every year, more than 10 crore people benefit from the YouTube videos.
• The foundation spends more than ₹3 lakh per day on ads and publicity, particularly for his teachings and values, not Acharya Prashant himself.
• The foundation sends more than ₹10 lakh to maintain the existing repository of more than 10,000 videos and publish new videos.
• Thousands of seekers fill out the inquiry form every month to get in touch with Acharya Ji.
• The foundation has a team of more than 40 counselors who answer the queries of these seekers and help them connect with Acharya Ji.
• Despite efforts, there is still a gap in connecting with every person who fills out the form due to a lack of resources.
• But, you can contribute to help expand this team of counselors.

b) YouTube

The primary medium that skyrocketed Acharya Prashant’s popularity is his YouTube channel, which has over 48 million subscribers. It is the largest individual YouTube channel in India.

Established on August 27, 2014, the channel boasts over 10,200 videos covering a myriad of topics, all aimed at illuminating the truths of life, clarifying concepts, and enriching viewers’ lives with invaluable insights and wisdom.

His unwavering consistency is evident in his daily video uploads, providing uninterrupted access to knowledge and wisdom for audiences worldwide without any language or accessibility barrier.

With millions of subscribers, it serves as a hub for seekers worldwide, providing profound insights and interpretations of timeless wisdom. Acharya Prashant’s ability to articulate complex concepts resonates with viewers, fostering personal growth and inner exploration on a global scale.

c) Organization

Acharya Prashant runs a non-profit organization named Prashant Advait Foundation, which helps people who are lost and seek guidance about life and goals.

The organization manages everything related to Acharya Prashant, including his YouTube channel, books, volunteers, website, workers, devotees, seminars, and more.

Being a non-profit, the foundation relies on funding through its website. You can contribute to this initiative with a minimal amount of ₹25.

You can also join the organization as a volunteer or team member, like IT, video editor, book publishing and more.

d) Books

Acharya Prashant is also a renowned and proficient author, having written numerous books focusing on life, truth, mythology, and teachings.

Image by Flipkart

Up Until now, he has written 140+ books. These books are a compilation of Acharya Prashant’s talks in the past 15 years. Some of the most famous ones are –

• Bhagavad Gita
• Ashtavakra Gita
• Maya
• Acharya Prashant with students
• Fear
• Woman Revolution
• Karma
• Advaid in EVerday’s life.
• Book of Myths

e) Acharya Prashant Podcasts

While podcasts may not be Acharya Prashant’s primary focus, he has made notable appearances in them, such as his renowned podcast with Dhruv Rathee titled “Do God Exist?”, which delves into profound questions about the existence of God.

Apart from his YouTube podcasts, Acharya Prashant also appears on many other podcasts and popular news channels and debates, such as NDTV, The Times of India, Zee TV, and more.

f) Seminars

Acharya Prashant also holds numerous seminars across India and around the world. Many of these seminars take place on IIT campuses, colleges, news channels, and regular venues. This is the primary way to engage with him and ask your questions live. He is a highly intellectual person and knows how to provide insightful answers and guidance to his audience.

6. Life Lesson Of Acharya Prashant

Acharya Prashant covers a wide range of topics, and millions tune in daily for his deep insights. His teachings offer comfort, inspiration, and understanding, helping people tackle life’s challenges with grace. This widespread interest gives hope for a better world, as his wisdom encourages personal growth and societal progress.

Acharya Prashant is widely known for his clear and insightful interpretation of the Bhagavad-gita, which is one of his most renowned teachings. In addition to this, his videos and teachings cover a diverse range of topics, including:

Image by Instagram

Q. What is understanding Acharya Prashant?

Ans – ‘When that thinking stops, and only listening is happening, then that inner process is called understanding. ‘ 

Q. What is Liberation Acharya Prashant?

Ans – Liberation is an imperative. It is not really relevant how easy or difficult it is for a particular individual. It has to happen for one and all. You just cannot find any peace or relaxation or contentment without it.

Q. What is anger by Acharya Prashant?

Anger, is one of the most commonly encountered human emotions, yet least understood. A sense of guilt has always been associated with it which inhibits a direct and honest observation.

Q. What is true love by Acharya Prashant?

Ans – Acharya Prashant highlights that love involves three entities, not just two. He emphasizes that two individuals can only truly unite if they are first connected to a higher power, often referred to as God. Therefore, he describes every genuine relationship as a triangle, with the center representing this divine connection and the two individuals forming the other two points.

Q. What is the truth by Acharya Prashant?

Ans – Truth is something one has to go to at all costs in whichever way possible, it is the highest value. 

7. Is Acharya Prashant Married?

NO! Acharya Prashant is unmarried and has no intention of marrying. He does not believe in such conventional commitments, choosing instead to focus on his personal growth and his followers.

8. Acharya Prashant Family

Acharya Prashant has a family of 5 people: his mother, his father, two siblings and himself.

Acharya Prashant’s father was a bureaucrat and the relationship between Acharya Prashant and his father runs deep, characterized by a strong bond and mutual understanding. He fondly remembers his childhood days when he had a deep love for books. His father ensured that their home was always stocked with books, often taking him to big bookstores in the city to fulfill his passion for reading.

Acharya Prashant’s mother was a homemaker who cherished him deeply from his early years. She was so proud of his academic achievements and even used to visit his school, to take the award or affectionate title of “Mother Queen” due to his success in academics.

Besides his parents, Acharya Prashant has two siblings and he is the eldest among them. However, detailed information about his family, including their names, is not publicly available.

9. Achievements

Acharya Prashant doesn’t care about achievements, fame, or recognition. He is entirely devoted to his teachings, his followers, and addressing their life problems. Despite this, he has gained some significant achievements in his life, such as:

Image by Instagram

• Cracking both UPSC and IIT exams, two of the toughest exams in India.
• Building one of the largest individual YouTube channels in India with over 48 million subscribers.Founding the Prashant Advait Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing guidance and support.
• Receiving PETA’s ‘Most Influential Vegan of the Year’ award in Mumbai.
• Conducting numerous seminars and workshops across India and globally, including at prestigious institutions like IITs and various colleges.
• Being featured on various popular news channels and debates, such as NDTV, The Times of India, and Zee TV.
• Gained a huge number of loyal and genuine devotes who follow him on a regular basis.
• He also appeared on the cover page of Entrepreneur Magazine as the Monk CEO.

10. Controversies

Acharya Prashant is a very mature and intellectual person who does not engage in controversies or disputes to gain fame.

However, there is a particular incident involving Acharya Prashant that has drawn criticism for his interpretation of several key Indic concepts, such as reincarnation (Punarjanma), enlightenment (moksha), liberation (mukti), and action (karma).

There is an article titled “New Light on Ancient Texts: Illumination or Nebulation” that sheds light on this incident.

11. Acharya Prashant’s Net Worth

To begin with, there isn’t a definitive response to this inquiry. Money isn’t the primary motivation behind his continuous dedication. Moreover, his income doesn’t stem from a single source. It’s derived from various channels such as YouTube videos, books, institutes, seminars, personal counseling, and more.

Therefore, his net worth is likely higher. Nonetheless, according to certain sources, his net worth is estimated to be around $3.08 million or 25 crore Indian rupees.

a) How Much Does Acharya Prashant Earn?

There is no significant data available about Acharya Prashant’s earnings because first this is not his main intention and second he has multiple channels. However, according to his YouTube stats, this is an estimated earning.

Month	Estimated earnings
May 2024	$ 79.7K
April 2024	$ 139K
March 2024	$ 94.9K
February 2024	$ 77K
January 2024	$ 63.6K
December 2023	$ 113K
November 2023	$ 60.7K
October 2023	$ 81.2K
July 2023	$ 105K
June 2023	$ 43.9K
May 2023	$ 21.1K

b) Acharya Prashant Fees

Image by Instagram

Acharya Prashant’s YouTube videos, podcasts, and other digital content are entirely free for all individuals. While his books and apps may have a nominal cost, they remain affordable.

However, to ensure the smooth functioning of his institute, a definite amount is required. But there’s no need to worry. On his website, there is a page dedicated to contributions for the institute’s operations. You can support this initiative with a minimum contribution of just 25 rupees.

12. Facts

Here are some amazing and less-known about Acharya Prashant

• Born on Maha Shivratri – Acharya Prashant was born on the blessed day of Maha Shivratri.
• Cracked Both UPSC and IIT: Acharya Prashant successfully cracked two of India’s toughest exams, UPSC and IIT.
• Animal Activist and Vegan Advocate: He is a dedicated animal activist and a promoter of veganism, standing firmly against animal cruelty.
• Extraordinary Childhood: During his childhood, Acharya Prashant excelled in multiple subjects, showcasing his exceptional intellect early on.
• Avid Reader: He has a strong habit of reading, constantly expanding his knowledge and understanding.
• Top YouTuber in India: Acharya Prashant might be one of the biggest YouTubers in India, with a massive following and extensive content.
• Founder of Prashant Advait Foundation: He runs the non-profit Prashant Advait Foundation, which provides guidance and support to those seeking direction in life.
• Belief in Opposing Speciesism: Acharya Prashant advocates against speciesism, believing that humans should not consider themselves superior to other species or lifeforms.
• Award-Winning Advocate: He received PETA’s ‘Most Influential Vegan of the Year’ award in Mumbai, recognizing his contributions to promoting veganism.
• Accomplished Author: Acharya Prashant is also a prolific author, having written numerous books on spirituality, self-awareness, and personal growth.
• Contribution to Newspapers – Acharya Prashant has written a lot of articles and blogs for some renowned newspapers and blogs.

FAQs

Takeaway

In conclusion, Acharya Prashant’s life offers valuable lessons in seeking truth, self-discovery, and spiritual growth.

We can learn to cultivate a deep understanding of life’s mysteries, embrace consistency and dedication in our pursuits, and prioritize inner transformation over external validation.

To follow in his footsteps, we can engage with his teachings through various mediums, actively seek opportunities for self-reflection and introspection, and foster a sense of community and support among fellow seekers.